play.
a show about play… for grown ups.
armed with a book of stories, a box of games, and a spark too bright to smother, robbie is looking for someone to play with.
part theatre, part game, ‘play.’ weaves play into performance to share the stories of the games we once played, and the ones we still do.
bursting with energy, award-winning director and performer robbie fieldwick creates a playground to delight, connect, and reignite the spark of play.
AWARD WINNER Adelaide Fringe 2026
★★★★ ½ “A rare work that can engage a wide range of audience members and make a temporary community of them.” – Fringefeed 2026
showings
pride fest, qtopia sydney
the substation, darlinghurst NSW
june 15-17 (7:30PM)
cast & crew
creator &
performer
robbie fieldwick (he/they)
collaborator &
tech support
emmett aster (he/any)
sound designer
benjamin vaughan (he/him)
accessibility
accessibility information
the substation, qtopia sydney is only accessible via a narrow flight of stairs.
this show includes non-compulsory but highly encouraged audience interaction.
some interaction depends on the ability to read words on cards, distinguish between colours, and/or pass cards to other audience members.
there is no lockout; audience are free to leave and return whenever they would like.
if you have an access query/request, please contact us!
content warnings
this show contains strobe lighting.
official reviews
from the creative minds of perhaps, theatre., play. is part theatre performance, part workshop that coaxes you to reconnect with the vessels that sparked your imagination as a kid and reflect: why did we stop playing?
fieldwick is fully present with the audience, and their whimsical energy is endearing to watch. they easily transition between the theatre and play aspects of the show, so that it starts to feel like you are in conversation with them or a part of some kind of therapeutic wellness seminar that is encouraging you to reconnect with the quietened inner child. you never stay in one idea for long enough; one thought leaps to the next that informs the next game, which may get resolved, but often does not, which in itself captures the erratic nature of a child in play.
perhaps, theatre. aims to blur the lines of traditional theatre with play, movement, poetry, and music and play. hits all those marks. play. is a charming show that makes you want to dust off the box of toys in the back of your parents’ garage or attic and discover that we have never really stopped playing; we may just have put it on pause, or found different channels or outlets that are more grown-up.
play. by perhaps, theatre. doesn’t just break the fourth wall, it hands you a piece of lego and asks what you’d like to make with it.
created and winningly performed by robbie fieldwick, with collaboration and tech support from emmett aster and delicate sound design from benjamin vaughan, this intimate solo work bounces between personal storytelling and a broader poke at why play matters once we’ve (supposedly) grown up. the audience sits in two lines facing each other, ensuring you’re not only watching the show, but seeing a roomful of strangers slowly decide it’s okay to be ridiculous, together. this is a great strength of the work – inviting the audience to share in play and the creation of meaning.
the ending (which came all too soon) isn’t a bow, but a hangout: lego, d&d, chess, tower building, conversation cards. you don’t just leave having watched a charming show, you leave having played with new friends.
audience testimonials
robbie encompasses the powers of play throughout life, encouraging us to play with them in this highly interactive show. a mixture of poetry, spoken word and clownery with a touch of slapstick creates an approachable and moving show for all ages. excellent prop work. i left with my inner child laughing while my outer adult was filled with love.
[one] of the most special and affecting pieces of theatre that i have been to in a long time.
‘play.’ invites us into a poignant, participatory, and ultimately joyful exploration of play, and the dynamics, delight, and diversity which surround this innate and important aspect of human experience.
it’s a confident performer who can invite a bit of wildcard engagement from the audience, and creator and performer robbie fieldwick did this with such kind mischievousness that by the end we were all sitting on the floor of the stage playing lego, chess, and d&d together. well played robbie 😉
such fabulous fun, and i normally don’t like interactive theatre!